Cougars do it again to Warriors

Published 3:17 pm, Friday, April 22, 2016

BAY CITY — North Huron coach Steve Schmidt wanted his team to play a schedule that prepared it for an eventual regional championship game.

The tough schedule helped the Warriors (24-8) go toe-to-toe with an old nemesis here Saturday in the title game of the Division 4 regional with Bay City All Saints (25-12-1), though the Warriors fell, 3-1.

BCAS had an early 2-0 lead, but North Huron cut it to 2-1 heading into the final inning.

The Warriors’ only run was scored by Kurt Dhyse, who came home on an error.

It would prove to be the final play of Dhyse’s career as he came in as a pinch runner for the pitcher.

Dhyse was hurt in North Huron’s 11-2 semifinal victory over Deckerville.

The Cougars added an important insurance run in the top of the seventh to secure the win.

They almost needed it as the Warriors put a pair of runners on, but the BCAS defense was able to hold in the seventh.

“We played really good. We played at a high level — and I’m really proud of the team,” said Schmidt. “(BCAS) is a good team, we were in the game to the last out.”

Junior pitcher Mike Nienaltowski turned in a fine effort on the mound as he went five innings in the opening win over Deckerville and five more against BCAS.

With temperatures in the 90s, Nienaltowski remained in control until the end.

“That was a great effort in this heat,” Schmidt said.

Freshman Eric Dhyse came on to finish the final two innings.

“We have both of those guys coming back next year, so we’re going to have a nice little team next year, too,” Schmidt said.

Not only will Dhyse and Nienaltowski be back, but so will most of the roster.

There were only three seniors on the team in Nick Peterson, Kurt Dhyse and Myke Schmidt.

Although each will be a key loss, the Warriors got plenty of contributions from the younger players on the team.

“I’m not ready to start practice tomorrow, but in a couple days, we’ll start thinking about next year — and I’ll be excited about that,” Schmidt said.

“We keep taking these little steps each year and we keep going a little farther each year. So, I hope we can take a bigger step next year. We were one swing of the bat away from the quarterfinals.”

BCAS defeated Hale, 11-0, in the other semifinal game to make it to the championship.

The Cougars advance to the quarterfinals to play Waterford Our Lady of The Lakes at 4 p.m. on Tuesday at Flint Kearsley.